2006-01-10 - 10:18 a.m.
I took Dolly out to explore the utility right of way on Sunday. Bad idea. The path was mostly clear, except for a boggy patch of greenbriar and a vine the soldiers call "wait a minute" vine. It's like living barbed wire. Apparently, there was some poison ivy in there, too. Yay. I slogged through, picking thorns out of my flesh and clothing as I went. Dolly had no problem, of course. I'll survive, I'm just scratched up, and the ivy spot is small. I'm concentrating on not scratching and spreading it. Next time, we'll jsut go to the regular places, where the trails are wide open and the thorny things are safely out of the way.
There was also a creek and some lovely stinky water, so Dolly had a great time. I had to hose her off when we got home, then tied her up outside to dry a bit. She looked most perplexed at that - she hasn't been tied out in a long time. However, when inside, she always lies on the nice oriental rugs. Not the best place for a wet dog to hang out. She wasn't out long - I'm too soft hearted.
It's been so mild here! Yesterday, I saw an azalea in a protected nook in bloom, about one to two months early. The weather report for the next week calls for highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s. Nice. Yesterday, I went out after lunch and walked around the neighborhood, just to get out in the sun.
The fence installation has begun. The fenceposts are in, they just have to stretch the chain link and install the gate. Once the yard is fenced, I will have to resist the temptation to skip the dogwalking that I've been doing since we moved. Because she's confined to the house, I've walked her every morning and evening for the past six weeks. It's been really good for her - she was getting tubby, and now she has her waist back. It sure can't hurt me to get that extra exercise.
